Abstract: A method for assembling a disk drive includes placing disks on a spindle, and pivoting a turbulence reduction plate to a position between the disks on the spindle. The turbulence reduction plate is placed on a pivot associated with the housing and then rotated into position. The turbulence reduction plate is attached to the housing and a cover is placed onto the housing to form a disk enclosure which also encloses the turbulence reduction plate.

Abstract: A method for dynamic electrical testing of head gimbal assemblies may include initiating an automated continuous process that includes selecting an unmounted head gimbal assembly; aligning the unmounted head gimbal assembly; loading the unmounted head gimbal assembly to a disc; and testing the unmounted head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: Patterned media and associated methods of fabrication are provided in which vertical magnetic grains are grown on a patterned seed layer. The patterned seed layer includes a matrix of islands of a first seed material. Each island of first seed material is separated from other islands by a region of second seed material. The first seed material is selected to initiate growth of magnetic material, and the second seed material is selected to initiate growth of non-magnetic material. Subsequently, magnetic material is grown on the first seed material and non-magnetic material is grown on the second seed material. Deposition may be simultaneously. The magnetic and non-magnetic materials form well-defined vertical columns over the first and second seed materials respectively. Thus, each island behaves as an isolated magnetic unit, which switches independently from its neighbor units, which are magnetically separated by the non-magnetic material.

Abstract: The present invention provides both a peripheral device that regulates its own temperature by adjusting its power consumption, and a method to accomplish the same. The method generally includes monitoring the temperature of the mass storage device and reducing power consumption when the temperature exceeds a certain threshold.

Abstract: A tape drive, including: a housing including a single character display that displays a single character at a time; and an activator configured such that, when the single character display displays a single character representative of a status of the tape drive, activation of the activator causes the tape drive to further represent the status represented by the single character as information including a plurality of words detailing the status, the information provided by repeatedly spelling out a message, including the plurality of words describing the status of the tape drive, one letter at a time on the single character display, and an audible message provider that provides an audible message, including the plurality of words describing the status of the tape drive.

Abstract: A shock absorbing device for an enclosure. The shock absorbing device including a shock absorbing frame. The shock absorbing frame includes an inner surface coupled adjacent to the enclosure and an outer surface. The shock absorbing device also includes a plurality flexible shock bumpers spaced apart from each other and formed on the outer surface of the shock absorbing frame. Each flexible shock feature includes a mount feature.

Abstract: A seek-scan-probe memory device, utilizing a media electrode to allow active cantilevers to contact the storage media, and a pull electrode to pull up cantilevers away from the storage media when in an inactive mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A pallet main body is provided with a block holding member which presses a positioning surface of an actuator block against a block reference surface formed in the pallet main body, and a movable arm. An insertion member, which can be inserted between a plurality of opposing suspensions, is formed at a distal end of the movable arm. As a suspension to which a slider is to be attached contacts a first contact surface formed on the side in contact with this suspension, a distal end of the suspension to which the slider is to be attached is held at a prescribed height from the block reference surface, thereby forming a gap between this suspension and a suspension opposed to this suspension.

Abstract: A mechanical transport device includes a system for transport; and a hard disk drive attached to the system. The hard disk drive comprises a magnetic recording disk to record data, a head to read or write the data to or from the disk, and a drop sensor designed to sense a shock condition. The system for transport may be a vehicle such as a car.

Abstract: A front panel operating apparatus and method of a vehicle display device such as a car audio can include a main chassis for accommodating an audio device, a front panel provided in the front side of the main chassis that opens or closes to allow access to a record medium for the audio device. The front panel can have a display part in the front side thereof. A supporting panel can be hinge-coupled to a lower side of the front panel to move a lower end of the front panel forward and backward by sliding from a prescribed location of the main chassis in forward and backward directions of the main chassis. A vertical guide can be formed at the front side of the main chassis, and a protrusion formed on the front panel can be inserted into the vertical guide for controllably moving an upper portion of the front panel up and down.

Abstract: When a rotation shaft reaches a first standstill position, a contact piece is received in a first hooked groove. A grasping mechanism unit is forced to enjoy a change in the attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. When the rotation shaft further reaches a first terminal position, the grasping mechanism unit is forced to restore the predetermined attitude around the rotation shaft by the rotation angle of 90 degrees. The linear motion of the rotation shaft is in this manner interconnected to the rotational movement of the grasping mechanism unit in a library apparatus. A pulley, a timing belt and an electric motor can be omitted from the driving mechanism for the grasping mechanism unit. This results in a simplified structure. The production cost is thus reduced. The transporting mechanism can have a longer service life.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.

Abstract: An active noise canceller outputs a noise pattern learning request signal to a hard disk drive causing the hard disk drive to perform a predetermined operation, receives noise at this moment through a sound-receiving unit, and stores, in a nonvolatile memory unit, a relationship between the noise and a head operation data signal output from the hard disk drive. Based on the operation data signal outputted from the hard disk drive, the active noise canceller generates a noise-canceling sound while making a reference to the above relationship stored in the nonvolatile memory unit. Therefore, the signal processing needs a low degree of response for operating the noise-canceling sound.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand includes a spindle having a fluid pressure port therethrough for delivery of fluid pressure. A spindle adapter is adapted to be attached to the spindle and for holding a disk. The spindle adapter has a piston movable therein to clamp a disk between the piston and an opposing surface in response to fluid pressure applied through the spindle fluid pressure port. A disk can be attached to the spindle by offering the disk up to the spindle adapter, and applying fluid pressure to the spindle fluid pressure port to cause the piston to clamp the disk against the opposing surface. The disk can then be spun up on the spindle.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and positioning a read/write head to a disk in a test apparatus has a deck and a spindle on the deck and on which a disk can be mounted for rotation of the disk. A gripper is provided for holding a head during testing, the gripper being movable over a surface of the deck. A precisor receives a head and accurately aligns the head, the precisor being movable over a surface of the deck. A pick is operable to pick up and place down a head. The precisor is movable to a position where the pick can pick up a head from the precisor and place down a head on the precisor. The gripper is movable to a position where the pick can pick up a head from the gripper and place down a head on the gripper.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic field detecting element having a free layer whose magnetization direction is variable depending on an external magnetic field and a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed with respect to the external magnetic field, said free layer and said pinned layer being stacked with an electrically conductive, nonmagnetic spacer layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein sense current is configured to flow in a direction that is perpendicular to film planes of the magnetic field detecting element is provided. The method has the steps of: forming a spacer adjoining layer that is adjacent to said spacer layer, Heusler alloy layer, and a metal layer successively in this order; and forming either at least a part of said pinned layer or said free layer by heating said spacer adjoining layer, said Heusler alloy layer, and said metal layer. The spacer adjoining layer has a layer that is chiefly made of cobalt and iron.

Abstract: A light-weight flash hard drive includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) mounted in a housing formed by a plastic frame and a pair of metal panels that are mounted on the plastic frame over the PCBA. The PCBA includes a PC board and a plug connector that is mounted on a front edge of the PCB. The plastic frame includes first and second parallel side rails and a back end rail extending between back ends of the first and second side rails. The frame defines an open front end and a longitudinal platform for receiving and supporting the PCBA such that the plug connector is exposed through the open front end. The metal panels are either snap-coupled to the plastic frame or to each other. Alternatively, or in addition, an adhesive or insulating film is provided between the metal panels and the IC devices mounted on the PCBA.

Abstract: A remote control device (100) includes an insulated housing (2, 3) including an outer surface (20, 30) plated with a conductive material for providing a suppression of EMI, an inner surface (21, 31), and a receiving space (4) defined by the outer surface and the inner surface, a printed circuit board (51) received in the receiving space, and including at least a first conductive pad (511), and a second conductive pad electrically connected to the first conductive pad by conductive trace, a cable including at least one grounding conductor electrically connected to the second conductive pad, grounding means (22) electrically connected to the conductive material and the first conductive pad for providing a sheath for ESD generated on the remote control device.

Abstract: A helical scan drum design for use in non-tracking tape devices which assures 70% coverage of a track to be read by overscanning with at least two read heads at approximate 1X speed. The present invention further provides a simulation method for evaluating potential drum designs for such overscan applications. The preferred drum design uses pairs of read heads having identical azimuth angles and positioned on the rotating drum such that in combination they overlap the scan of a track by 130% the track width. These dimensions assure at least 70% coverage of each track by at least one of the pair of heads at up to 1X speed while assuring no overlap with another recorded track recorded along an identical azimuth angle. The simulation method allows for evaluation of potential drum designs by accepting parameters describing the intended drum application and then simulating track read operations over a plurality of simulated tracks to determine the efficacy of the design over a range of tape speeds and gap widths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus calculates production quantities of a production system such as the throughput of a tool group, good unit equivalents of a tool group, number of units shipped and started for each step of the production system, process time of each step, average processing time, rate and units processed for each tool group, number of tools required and minimum and actual number of test cells or tool groups required. Some or all of these production quantities are calculated by taking into account the downtime of any controller of a tool group.

Abstract: A hard disk drive fixing structure can accommodate a hard disk drive and can electrically connect with a computer to transmit information therebetween. The hard disk drive fixing structure has an accommodation casing; two rotary fixing members, which are corresponding to the fixing threaded holes of the hard disk drive, are pivotally installed to two lateral sides of the accommodation casing respectively; each rotary fixing member has at least one fixing protuberance; via the rotation of the rotary fixing members, the fixing protuberances can be respectively inserted into or withdrawn from the fixing threaded holes. Thereby, the hard disk drive can be fast assembled to/disassembled from the hard disk drive fixing structure of the present invention without any screwing/unscrewing activity but just via rotating the rotary fixing members.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device is removable from an apparatus body includes a case, a driving unit, and a connector. The driving unit is installed in the case, and includes a magnetic disk and a rotary driver for rotationally driving the magnetic disk. The connector connects the driving unit and the apparatus body. The case includes an elastic supporting member and a locking member. The elastic supporting member elastically supports the driving unit. The locking member is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the driving unit being locked at the locked position and being unlocked at the unlocked position in the case. The locking member moves to the locked position and the unlocked position by operational force from the exterior of the case.

Abstract: A technique is provided for coupling and uncoupling modular devices with electronic and computing devices. A latch is coupled to a release member, which operates to release the latch from a mate latch by bending the release member to move the latch laterally away from the mate latch. The release member also may have grips for tool-lessly bending the release member to release the latch from the mate latch, and for removing the desired device. The technique also may embody a modular device having the latch and release member, or it may embody an overall system having the modular device disposed in a receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a mechanism for fastening a rear side of computer comprising a rear panel provided at the rear of a case of the computer, and a fastening assembly having one end pivotably connected to the case adjacent the rear panel for pivoting the fastening assembly to approach or move away from the rear panel, wherein, after a plurality of fastening members being mounted at the rear panel, the fastening assembly is able to tightly press the fastening members thereby sandwiching an engagement piece of each fastening member between the fastening assembly and the rear panel and quickly fastening the fastening members at the rear panel.

Abstract: A tape cleaner with a cleaning tape to wipe out dirt adhered to a surface of a tape is composed to wipe out the dirt adhered to the surface of the tape by pressing said cleaning tape on a surface of a running tape, and the cleaning tape is composed so that a weft made of an ultra fine fiber is exposed more outside than a warp and the weft is vertically arranged for a running direction of the tape.

Abstract: A method of erasing information on one or more disks in a disk drive uses a high strength magnetic field to erase the disks while the disks are in the HDD assembly. The design of the head disk enclosure provides a reduced thickness in a localized region over the disks. This allows a narrower working magnetic gap of the HDD level disk erase apparatus. The localized region of the HDD may be a formed indentation on the top cover, elimination of flange, and reduced floor thickness of the HDD base.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism includes a computer chassis (90), a bracket (10) defining a pair of slideways (14, 16) in a sidewall (11) thereof for receiving corresponding sliding members (44) of a storage device (40), a power supply (80) rotatably attached in the computer chassis, and a hook (60, 60?) pivotally attached to the sidewall of the bracket. The hook is for retaining the sliding members of the storage device in the slideways of the bracket. The power supply is rotated to engage the bracket and the hook thereby securing the storage device in the bracket.

Abstract: A turntable structure to control function selection for a media player. The turntable structure includes a base, a retaining ring, a bearing assembly, a rotating assembly and a rotating shaft. The base has a central post. The central post has a protrusion and a positioning portion formed thereon. The retaining ring is disposed on the central post and has an engaging hole and a positioning groove. The protrusion is engaged in the engaging hole and the positioning portion is engaged with the positioning groove. A gap exists between the retaining ring and the central post to prevent deformation of the central post resulting from thermal expansion and contraction. The bearing assembly encircles the retaining ring. The rotating assembly is assembled on the bearing assembly. The rotating shaft is fit in the central post and connected to the rotating assembly.

Abstract: A docking module for conventional small form factor disk drives provides, in one embodiment, space for two such disk drives embedded in tray loaders, within a standard 3.5 inches halve height floppy bay. The docking module provides hot swappable insertion and removal of tray loaders together with disk drives. The bay is provided within a housing member. A button attached to a lever mechanism disconnects the docking module connector from the tray loader connector and partially pull out the loader when the button is pushed; An EMI shield fixedly coupled to the tray loaders each provide a barrier to electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the cleaning of magnetic tape cartridge drive, particularly such as removable data-storage media tapes, and especially an arrangement and method of providing a disposable cartridge retention spring cleaning tool.

Abstract: A tape guide post mechanism for guiding running of a tape includes: a post arm, the post arm including a tape guide post, around which the tape is looped at a predetermined angular distance, and which guides running of the tape, and a hole; an arm shaft which engages with the hole and rotatably supports the post arm, wherein an external side surface of the arm shaft is in contact with the hole at at least two points in the vicinity of an upper opening of the hole and at at least two points in the vicinity of a lower opening of the hole.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved composite substrate for use in a magnetic recording-and-reproducing device. It comprises an “L”-shaped main plate and a separate sub-plate. The “L”-shaped main plate has a major section of relatively large area and a minor section of relatively small area, integrally connected to one side of the major section. The sub-plate has a square or rectangular piece cut and separated from the minor section of the main plate. When being inversely arranged and jointed together two composite substrates can define a square or rectangular shape.

Abstract: Provided is a leader block rotary mechanism for a cartridge magnetic tape device, which allows over-rotation of a rotator cam in the capture direction by providing an over-rotation limiting device in a rotator cam so that damages on mechanism parts and motors due to over-rotation of the rotator cam can be prevented. Over-rotation of the rotator cam can be facilitated so that fine adjustment in the rotation amount of the loader cam gear and the rotator cam becomes unnecessary. Further, there is no abnormal capture operation generated even when there is over or less rotation of the rotator cam. The rotator cam is forcibly rotated by a release cam in the release direction through reverse rotation of the loader cam gear so as to prevent the rotation from being stuck at the time of release.

Abstract: A front panel operating apparatus and method of a vehicle display device such as a car audio can include a main chassis for accommodating an audio device, a front panel provided in the front side of the main chassis that opens or closes to allow access to a record medium for the audio device. The front panel can have a display part in the front side thereof. A supporting panel can be hinge-coupled to a lower side of the front panel to move a lower end of the front panel forward and backward by sliding from a prescribed location of the main chassis in forward and backward directions of the main chassis. A vertical guide can be formed at the front side of the main chassis, and a protrusion formed on the front panel can be inserted into the vertical guide for controllably moving an upper portion of the front panel up and down.

Abstract: A magnetic transfer system includes magnetic recording medium stocker which holds a plurality of magnetic recording media, a magnetic transfer apparatus which magnetically transfers information represented by a magnetic layer on a master information carrier to the magnetic recording medium by applying a transfer magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium and the master information carrier with the magnetic recording medium and the master information carrier held in close contact with each other, and a conveyor which conveys the magnetic recording medium between the magnetic recording medium holding means and the magnetic transfer means. The magnetic recording medium holding stocker, the magnetic transfer apparatus and the conveyor are formed of material which contains substantially no chlorine, sulfur compound or nitric oxide at least at a part which is brought into contact with the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention includes a chemical monolayer construction that comprises: (a) a substrate having a contact surface; and (b) a plurality of substantially parallel molecular units, wherein said molecular units are attached to said substrate so as to be strongly coupled electronically to said substrate, such as through a conjugated bond. The present invention also includes electronic circuit components and devices including a chemical monolayer construction of the present invention.

Abstract: A particle remover for a data storage device that removes particles attached to a surface of a disk, the particle remover including a fixed portion installed on a base plate of the data storage device; and pressure plates extending from the fixed portion toward the disk and respectively overlapping an upper surface and a lower surface of the disk, and having disk opposing surfaces with shapes that are convex toward the disk to form a space between the disk opposing surfaces and the surface of the disk that becomes narrower and then wider along a rotational direction of the disk.

Abstract: A server system and a vibration-free extractable hard disc drive assembly thereof. The server system includes a chassis and the vibration-free hard disc drive assembly. The assembly is disposed in the chassis in an extractable manner. The vibration-free hard disc drive assembly includes a tray, a vibration-absorbing pad, and a hard disc drive. The tray is disposed in the chassis in an extractable manner. The vibration-absorbing pad is disposed on the tray. The hard disc drive is disposed on the tray via the vibration-absorbing pad. Thus, external vibration transmitted to the tray is reduced by the vibration-absorbing pad, limiting the vibration transmitted to the hard disc drive; therefore, the vibration applied to the hard disc drive is reduced.

Abstract: A drive bracket structure includes first and second drive brackets (20, 40), a connect panel (30), and a securing bar (50). The first drive bracket includes a bottom plate (22) having a plurality of aligned pairs of catches (223), and a side plate (23) defining a slot (21). First and second slideways (221, 222) are defined in the bottom plate. The first slideway includes two straight portions. The second slideway includes two straight portions and an intermediate arcuate portion. The connect panel is secured to the second drive bracket. A pair of screws (38) fastened on the connect panel is slidingly received in the respective first and second slideways. The combined connect panel and second drive bracket is slidingly moved until the second drive bracket is located beneath the first drive bracket. The securing bar is extended through the slot of the first drive bracket and engaged with the catches.

Abstract: A process for restoring magnetic recording tape damaged by “Sticky Shed” syndrome cleans magnetic tapes of the Backcoating which is causing their eventual degradation and destruction. The Backcoating is first removed in a multi-step process. A liquid cleaner, such as isopropyl alcohol, is applied to the Backcoating to dissolve it from and clean it off the Mylar Base. Before the liquid cleaner is applied, steps are taken to prevent the cleaner fluid from getting onto the Oxide side of the tape. The chemical cleaning is done as quickly as possible. The second step is to dry clean the Base surface of the tape to remove the remaining solvent and the debris of any remaining Backcoating. Then, the Oxide side of the tape is given a dry, non-chemical cleaning to remove the residue of contamination of the Backcoating which was deposited on the Oxide side of the tape as the result of physical contact with the Backcoating from the storage on the reel of tape.

Abstract: The present invention features a magnetic read head having an IC component provided within or adjacent to the head case. No low-level, analog signals, which are generally highly susceptible to electrical noise, leave the head structure. Power and ground signals are provided to the hybrid head. Digitized data corresponding to encoded information upon the magnetic stripe on a credit card, ID badge, or similar article is provided at output terminals. Decoding is performed by an ASIC or similar device located at the read head. A data strobe signal and/or a magnetic medium detected signal may also be provided by the read head.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the enhancement of the storage capacity of a data disk drive while reducing optical path optics, electronics and/or the mass and complexity of associated read/write heads. The system utilizes light transmitted by optical elements to servo track a data disk and to heat the data disk during reading and writing of data, and magnetic elements for actual reading and writing.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus comprising a control dial unit having a jog dial and a shuttle dial which is concentrically mounted outside the jog dial is provided to solve the problem that when operating the jog dial, the shuttle dial in proximity of the jog dial is also rotated thereby preventing its optical pickup to access to a precise target position to be reproduced. The control dial of the invention is comprised of an outer control dial and an inner control dial which has a smaller diameter than the outer control dial and is arranged within a circumference of the outer control dial, wherein a peripheral corner of an upper surface of the inner control dial protrudes from an upper surface of the outer control dial, and its distance of protrusion is larger than 2 mm and smaller than 90 mm.

Abstract: An insertable device, for use with electronic data processing equipment storage units, e.g., disk drives or cassette units. The device includes a housing for insertion at least partially into the storage unit of a size and shape designed to fit the storage unit, an interface disposed in the housing for facilitating the transfer of data between the device and the electronic data processing equipment, and a processor disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the interface, for performing processing of data.

Abstract: A data storage device mounting apparatus includes a first drive bracket (10) fixedly mounted to a chassis (40) of a computer, and a second drive bracket (20) pivotably attached to the chassis. Two pins (54) are formed on each of opposite sides of a data storage assembly (50). The first bracket comprises first and second side plates (14, 16) each defining two slots (15) receiving the pins. The second side plate defines two openings (162) adjacent the slots. Two catches (164) and two positioning plates (168) extend outwardly from the second side plate at bottom and rear extremities of the openings respectively. The second bracket and one side comprises two legs (24). When the second bracket is pivoted down onto the first bracket, the legs cover the openings. Each leg is sandwiched between a corresponding pin and a corresponding positioning plate, and resiliently pressed inwardly by a corresponding catch.

Abstract: A bracket attached to a peripheral device of a computer system aligns and attaches the peripheral device to the inside of a computer system chassis. The bracket is detachably mountable and includes a bracket body having an aperture therein through which the peripheral device is inserted. The bracket includes a support bar having a tab that fits into a slot in the chassis to securely hold the peripheral device in position such that the front panel of the peripheral device is aligned within an aperture in a face of the chassis.

Abstract: A drive bracket assembly includes a first bracket (30), a connecting board (60), and a second bracket (70). The first bracket includes a bottom wall (32) and a sidewall (34). An arcuate railway is downwardly formed at the bottom wall. Two protrusions (46) downwardly protrude from the bottom wall. An L-shaped hook (48) depends from a junction of the bottom wall and the sidewall. An arcuate guideway (62) is upwardly formed at the connecting board. Two projections (67) are upwardly formed from an elastic arm (66) of the connecting board, for snappingly engaging with the protrusions. A latch (65) is formed at the connecting board, for engaging with the hook. The connecting board is attached on the second bracket. The second bracket can be slidably moved into or out from the computer enclosure, by sliding the guideway of the connecting board along the railway of the first bracket.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a tape media, such as a magnetic tape. The system preferably includes first and second cleaning heads. The first cleaning head has a plurality of spaced ridges defining a curved, tape-receiving face. The second cleaning head has including a plurality of lands spaced by shallow cavities configured to establish a sub-ambient condition. During use, a tape is transversed over the first cleaning head, with contact at leading edges formed by the ridges removing relatively large and loose particles. Relative to the second cleaning head, the tape partially wraps about a leading corner of the lands, due to the sub-ambient condition within the shallow cavities, facilitating removal of small, tacky debris. Processing by the cleaning heads simulates multiple passes over a magnetic head, thereby stabilizing magnetic tape. In alternative embodiments, the system includes only one of the first or second cleaning heads.

Abstract: A parallel read/write circuit for use with a plurality of transducer head assemblies and method of operation thereof. The parallel read/write circuit includes a parallel read/write cache, e.g., a bidirectional parallel-serial converter buffer in one advantageous embodiment. A byte-to-bit disassembler, coupled to the parallel read/write cache, receives parallel data from the parallel read/write cache and transmits each bit of the parallel data to a separate transducer head assembly, where each bit of the parallel data is written onto a different disk surface of a recording medium at substantially the same time. In an advantageous embodiment, the byte-to-bit disassembler is a parallel in/parallel out shift register.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for visually indicating a usage of a magnetic tape that is included in a magnetic tape cartridge. The apparatus includes a take-up spindle for receiving magnetic tape when the magnetic tape is moving in a forward motion. The apparatus also includes a meter assembly having a meter coupled to the take-up spindle. In a first embodiment, the meter is incremented only in response to each full rewind of the magnetic tape. In a second embodiment, the meter is incremented in an amount that is directly proportional to the amount of each rewind of the tape.